State Representive Cohen has introduced a measure that would expand existing law to recognize civil unions. HB708 has several familiar cosponsors, including Dan Frankel, Jake Wheatley, Chelsa Wagner, Dom Costa, Paul Costa, Mark Gergely. 41 sponsors in total. This legislation has been referred to the Judiciary Committee as of February 12, 2011. Several cosponsors sit in the Judiciary Committee.
State Senator Daylin Leach introduced a similarly timed bill to extend marriage to same sex couples. SB 461 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 9, 2011. More on why Senator is ardent on this issue.
In addition, State Representative Josh Shapiro is poised to introduce legislation which would amend the Hate Crimes statute to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Also, Representative Dan Frankel from right here in Pittsburgh plans to reintroduce legislation that expands protected class to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. This would provide protectsion in housing, public accomadation and in the workplace.
Interesting situation to have 4 critical pieces of legislation in a state controlled by Republicans. I'm sure there's a strategy. I'll keep you informed on any momentum these pick up as well as the potential reintroduction of marriage discrimination legislation to put a DOMA referendum before the voters.
Dan Savage is incredibly naughty and wonderful in the same breath. Thanks to his creative and intrepid readers, the Savage definition of Santorum remains at the top of the Google search for Rick's name. Rick's wikipedia entry is third.
The Post-Gazette reported that Savage's readers have clicked away to put the santorum definition to the top of the search engine in light of Santorum's hope for a presidential bid. Santorum's staffers tried to "do something" about it, but the Google does not lie. So now there's the spin of Santorum being persecuted by homosexuals.
?The site?s completely gross. But I don?t think it?s a problem politically for Rick running for president. Quite the opposite,? he said. ?If you?re Rick Santorum and you?re making an argument that there?s certain people that wish you ill, there?s exhibit No. 1. You say: ?You want to see my battle scars? Google my name. You don?t think I?ve been in the trenches for years? I?ve got the scars to prove it.??
Fortunately, Santorum's polling does not impress. However, I keep giggling when I reread the sentence "I've been in the trenches for years" with regard to the frothy, fecal matter reference. Ask me not why it makes me laugh, but I just get all sorts of amusing photos of the "man on dog" variety running through my head, minus the poor dog.
Ah, Google, we bow before your mighty algorithims.
I worked in City Council District 9 for nearly five years as a social worker, doing everything from financial literacy to recruiting foster parents. I worked on community projects, interacted with community leaders and watched East Liberty Station morph into The Village of Eastside. (Read that as metaphor for the slide of East Liberty into the gentrified made-up neighborhood of Eastside). While I'm by no means an expert, I do feel confident saying that there are gay people in District 9. There are people with gay folks in their extended families. And like many folks in this "disadvantaged" community, there are plenty of low and moderate income gay folks struggling along with their neighbors to be heard and empowered.
My take is that the LGBTQ residents have not been well represented by their current Councilman, Ricky Burgess. His voting record on LGBTQ issues is almost non-existant because he doesn't vote. He doesn't co-sponsor equality legislation. He doesn't support PrideFest. He uses subterfuge to discredit Councilor Bruce Kraus as just another rich white gay man (proving he's willing to toss down a stereotype to defend himself). He routinely postures as the voice of the disenfranchised and oppressed, except for those of us who happen to be oppressed because we are gay. There is no room in his vision of equality for people who are legally second class citizens because of whom we love. That's a sad fact.
The joyful news is that Councilor Burgess has a promising challenger in his upcoming reelection race. I had the chance to meet with her last week and let me assure our conversation was not at all limited to "gay" issues.
Lucille Prater-Holliday is a lifelong Pittsburgh native with real life experiences that resonate with the lives of the people she hopes to represent. Lucille was born into a family of 9 children and lived in foster care until the age of 12 when her siblings were reunited with her mother. She grew up in Beltzhoover and then Homewood after reunification where her family continued to struggle to meet basic needs. As she bluntly puts it, Lucille was "living the social problems so many poor people live."
She attended local schools, graduating from Westinghouse High School and attending CCAC in Homewood. Lucille probably shouldn't have succeeded; she readily admits the card were stacked against her. She credits the intervention of two adults in the school system who nutured her with food when her stomach was empty and with emotional care she didn't receive at home.
At age 34, Lucille found herself a widow with two young sons. She continued to work in the social services field while she pursued a bachelor's degree from Geneva College.
Throughout these years, Lucille has lived in several East End communities including East Liberty, Shadyside and Homewood as well as the East Hills. She's been a community advocate with ACORN, Action United and social justice issues. Her mantra is "don't talk about it, be about it."
I asked Lucille why she was running and she shared the story of me of her experiences of walking into "downtown" Homewood when she returned at the age of 12 . She was overcome with the vibrancy of the community, the lively business district, the sights and sounds that overwhelm a child with possibility even when she isn't sure there will be a meal on the table that night. She then described for me the destruction of the riots after Martin Luther King was assassinated, a wound from which she believes Homewood has never recovered. Her hope is for other children growing up in District 9 to have that same feeling of wonderment, that they "deserve to live in an environment that allows them to grow and succeed."
Prater-Holliday's story is compelling, but her energy and focus on issues is equal parts compelling and sort of a "yes we can" energy that has brought so many fresh new voices to the City Council table.
She's passionate about public transportation, leaning across the table to emphasize the waste which cripples riders in the most vulnerable communities, then leaning back when she acknowledges that is a county issue. But her ardor to lead her neighbors out of second-class citizenship is fervent.
Other issues:
- Piloting a "Neighborhood Council" model used in California with community council members having a formal line of communication with their City Councilor.
- Housing blight. Prater-Holliday states there are over 1,000 abandoned buildings in Homewood alone. She'd like to partner with the Housing Authority to revitalize empty houses and utilize a shared equity home ownership model.
- Education. She's concerned about the shifting plans for Westinghouse and believes the City Councilor should be more proactive advocating for children in this district.
- Employment. She's eager to tap into green iniatives to create job opportunities in her district. She'll be contributing to a Women & Girls Foundation of Southwestern PA project to highlight the accomplishments in the "green community" in 2011.
- City Pension. She's glad City Council took a leadership role in crafting a solution.
Gay issues. Yeah, so I asked her about it. I told her about Burgess' record. She showed me a photograph of her now deceased sister who was a lesbian and very much part of the family. She told me about seeing Dreams of Hope perform at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater on Martin Luther King Day. I asked her if she would sign a resolution in honor of PrideFest or in support of gay rights legislation on the state level. She looked me right in the eye, put her hand on her sister's photo and said "I would be proud to sign anything to support the gay community."
Prater-Holliday has a lot of questions for Councilor Burgess, mostly about where he's been. She claims she's been at dozens of community meetings and events without site of him. She claims he doesn't send staff in his absence. She exhorts that District 9 needs a public servant, not a politician.
"I've lived the life" of her neighbors is her hallmark along with dozens of years of grassroots work on social justice issues alongside her neighbors.
Prater-Holliday positions herself as a neighborhood girl with the community organizing skills that transfer into public service, rather than the family credentials that transfer into politician. She sees District 9 as a unique community of neighborhoods that have a long history of oppression and repression, but believes that the solutions lie within the district -- within the strength of those who live there and know what they need. Prater-Holliday isn't asking anyone to save Homewood or Larimer or East Hills. She's asking for the resources so the communities can save themselves and she believes she is best suited to make that happen.
Lucille Prater-Holliday is clearly a better candidate for the District 9 LGBTQ community than Councilman Burgess. Her grassroots experiences could translate well into an enthusiastic, hard-working new Councilwoman. I think this is a race worth watching as we have the chance to learn more about this unique woman. I like that she admits what she needs to learn, but has confidence she can learn it. That's the sort of moxy we need ... her grasp of how public transportation issues -- even the bus renovations -- impact her neighbors demonstrates a quick mind able to grasp the micro and macro level of systemic challenges.
Prater-Holliday's campaign kickoff event is Thursday, February 10, 2011, 6 PM at her campaign HQ 712 N. Homewood Avenue, across from CCAC.
You can reach her campaign manager quadirah (at) lucilleholliday (dot) com
The Pittsburgh City Paper explores the frustration of the County Human Relations Commission with the slow pace of the Onorato Administration around domestic partner benefits.
Is anyone really surprised? After 7 years, really?
It won't happen until the next Administration. Onorato doesn't want to use the political capital on this issue when he's potentially gearing up for a statewide race where gay votes and gay issues won't matter. That's my prediction. It isn't on his radar and the HRC is powerless.
Energy is better spent pressing Fitzgerald and Flaherty to commit to the issue.
John DeBartola from the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter wrote to the Trib earlier this month. He forecasts introduction of 4 pieces of pro-LGBTQ legislation: marriage, civil unions, hate crimed and non-discrimination legislation.
Both [Senator] Leach and [Rep.] Cohen have agreed to submit their respective bills for marriage equality and civil unions on Feb 7. Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, and Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery County, might also have their respective bills (nondiscrimination and hate crimes) in place.
I think this aggressive stance is commendable. We all anticipate a Metcalfe sponsored anti-marriage equality bill to be introduced and suck up a lot of resources. Keeping our allies and our agenda high profile reminds us all that we do not have to capitulate to the forces of homophobia and simply beat back these foes.
I was unable to attend the Progressive Summit and learn more, but I anticipate updates emerging from other sources soon.
From Autumn Sandeen at Pam's House Blend comes discouraging news about transwomen and transwomen employed by the State losing employment protections under a new executive order which DOES extend protection based on sexual orientation.
Another stark reminder of why we need to keep our queer umbrella over everyone and not succumb to the temptation to toss our transgender sisters and brothers overboard in the name of a "baby step."
Please read Autumn's diary. Ohio today could be a rollback in Pennsylvania on some other issue tomorrow under Governor Corbett's Administration. We must be vigilant.
I'm not sure we can go too wrong with any of these candidates for Allegheny County Chief Executive. I see domestic partner benefits on the horizon for Allegheny County employees (we are thiiiiiis close) which will pretty much seal the deal in terms of our region being a true leader with regard to equality.
This is more important than ever when a local elected state official wants to write discrimination into the Commonwealth constitution. We need to rally local Democrats in the House to stand up to this hate and insist they focus on our economy, healthcare, environment and so forth. A strong ally in this office will prove valuable in this regard.
There is also the inevitable march of non-discrimination ordinances through Pennsylvania's municipalities. Allegheny County's LGBTQ community needs to shore up our base so we can assist our sisters and brothers in Washington, Westmoreland, Butler, Beaver, Armstrong, Greene, Fayette and so forth. It is their turn so we owe it to them to elect a County leader who will lead on our behalf.
Some day, we'll seat more LGBTQ folks at the tables, alongside our champion Bruce Kraus. For now, we must insist that the women and men we do elect represent our community in their roles.
January 11, 2011?Councilman Bruce A. Kraus announced today that he will be seeking a second term as a representative on Pittsburgh?s City Council. The primary election will be held on May 17, 2011.
In a letter to constituents, Councilman Kraus cited?among other accomplishments?a few examples of the many successes that he has had in his first term:
?Protecting libraries in our district?we will soon see a renovation of our South Side branch library. In addition, efforts are underway to bring a new state-of-the-art library building serving Knoxville, Carrick, and our other Hilltop communities
?Responding to our neighbors? needs more efficiently with the opening of our Hilltop District Office on Arlington Avenue
?Working to reduce gun violence through responsible gun ownership legislation that requires reporting lost and stolen guns
The Councilman promised to continue to focus on keeping neighborhoods safe, clean, and green and to continue improvements to his constituents? quality of life.
?It has been an honor and a truly rewarding experience to represent our neighborhoods on City Council,? Kraus said. ?I am pleased to have been able to follow through on my campaign commitments and proud of what we have been able to accomplish.?
In his first term, Kraus served two years as chair of the Committee for Public Safety and currently chairs the Committee on Public Works. Among his legislative accomplishments were the passage of numerous bills focused on safe and clean streets and improved quality of life for residents and businesses alike.
Bruce Kraus was first elected in 2007 with 55% of the vote in the Primary Election and 86% in the General Election.
District 3 of Pittsburgh?s City Council includes the neighborhoods of Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Knoxville, Mount Oliver City, Saint Clair, the South Side Flats and Slopes, and parts of Carrick, Mount Washington, and Oakland.
Openly gay, newly minted intern Daniel Hernandez is credited with saving the life (LezGetReal) of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords when she was shot Saturday in Tucson, Arizona.
Hernandez is a Junior at the University of Arizona and a member of the City of Tucson?s Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues.
Follow the link for compelling video interview with Hernandez. I don't want to go on at length about this "gay" angle, but it is important to acknowledge him for his heroism and to remind us that all human beings are capable of great courage literally under fire.
This quiet story has popped up on all the major gay blogs, an example of the sad irony that a gay Latino man stepped forward in Arizona to literally stop the lifeblood of a community leader from flowing away. He held her hand. Her stayed by her side. He did everything an American is expected to do. In Arizona a state that assails his community on a regular basis.
Hernandez, who confirmed that he is gay in an interview with Instant Tea on Sunday morning, is a member of the City of Tucson Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues.
?She?s been a great ally to the LGBT community,? Hernandez said of Giffords during the brief interview across a bad connection.
According to the Arizona Republic, Hernandez was standing about 30 feet from Giffords during the ?Congress on Your Corner? event outside a Safeway store near Tucson. When the gunshots began, Hernandez ran toward them and began checking the pulses of people who?d been hit. When Hernandez got to Giffords, he used his hand to apply pressure to the entry wound on her forehead. He pulled her into his lap and held her upright so she wouldn?t choke on her blood. Hernandez used his hand to apply pressure to the wound until someone brought clean smocks from the meat department of the grocery store.
He stayed with Giffords until paramedics arrived, then climbed into an ambulance with her. On the way to the hospital, he squeezed her hand and she squeezed back
On a related issue, I got a little note from Lt. Dan Choi asking for support to have Daniel Hernandez invited to the State of the Union address. If you think that's fitting, join the Facebook group here.
America is stronger because of men like Daniel Hernandez.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Hernandez as the one who was rescued, instead of Congresswoman Gifford. Our apologies for the error.
I missed this in the Trib Review. To be fair, the online edition is unclear whether it is a local piece or a reprint (there's a byline and a tagline). But "he" takes a closer look at the pursuit of the institute of marriage for the LGBTQ community in the context of "anti-marriage" movements of the past.
Of course, the lunacy of the bohemian free-love shtick should have been obvious from the get-go. For instance, when Michael Lerner, a member of the anti-Vietnam War "Seattle Seven," did marry, in 1971, the couple exchanged rings made from the fuselage of a U.S. aircraft downed over Vietnam and cut into a cake inscribed in icing with a Weatherman catchphrase, "Smash Monogamy."
Today Lerner is a (divorced and remarried) somewhat preposterous, prosperous progressive rabbi who officiates at all kinds of marriages -- gay and straight -- and, like pretty much the entire left, loves the idea of open gays becoming cogs in the military-industrial complex.
He also rightly identifies the socio-economic divides that threaten to undermine attempts to act cohesively right here in Western Pennsylvania.
The gay experiment with open bohemianism was arguably shorter. Of course, AIDS played an obvious and tragic role in focusing attention on the downside of promiscuity. But even so, the sweeping embrace of bourgeois lifestyles by the gay community has been stunning.
Now I'll admit I'm a bourgeois lifestyle gay woman. I just try to be aware of it and use my privileges to help. I realize how hollow that rings, but I also genuinely do think he's right now .... the divide is here. I've talked about it before so I won't rant here, but as we move into a post-DADT world we are going to see this playing out more and more often in the national debate. Organizations are now pegged as Gay, Inc (by me, too) and inside/outsider status seems to change daily. Organizations are struggling to reconcile the different agendas and priorities, but also the shifting cultural differences within the gay community. Setting aside those who oppose marriage in general, there is a very strong middle sector of the LGBTQ community who are much more concerned with their jobs, their housing and their healthcare. Marriage equality could help, but it seems to drain resources from efforts that could help much sooner and much more concretely and not be grounded in your identity as one-half of couple, rather than your identity as an American citizen.
Many of my conservative friends -- who oppose both civil unions and gay marriage and object to rampant promiscuity -- often act as if there's some grand alternative lifestyle for gays. But there isn't. And given that open homosexuality is simply a fact of life, the rise of the HoBos -- the homosexual bourgeoisie -- strikes me as good news.
I share the belief that as gays gain power and influence, it can be good. It can also cut them (us?) off from some of discriminations that power and influence (and affluence) buffer.
The challenge we face here in Western PA is that we don't have a leader who bridges these worlds. The only place where this barrier may come down is at the bars, but we've moved past the time when bars are "the" institutions for the community. With that comes the price of addiction, risky sexual behavior, isolation, and an insular, if somewhat safe, worldview. We haven't yet moved to a place where there's a replacement here in Pittsburgh. There are organizations who try and achieve moderate success, but ... no leader.
That's going to be the necessary next step to galvanize Western PA's LGBTQ community to face down Darryl Metcalfe and push back against forces that perhaps strip us of existing rights and protections. Finding someone to inspire, to effectively reach across the socio-economic divide and to live transparently will be a challenge. Finding someone to unite the leaders of their factions and harvest their energies will be even more challenging as no one cedes power, even perceived power, without a fight.
I guess the challenge is to decide whether the fight is best fought within the community or beyond.
